NIASPAN Reviews (NIACIN)Average Rating: 2.7 (694 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare NIASPAN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 |
More on NIASPAN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR NIASPAN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | High Cholesterol | Red, burning sensation all over my body. Then I started swelling all over, throat swelled, lost oxygen, rushed to ER. Stayed in hospital 6 days to determine the Niaspan raised CPK levels to 1200 (normal for women is 50-170). Lost consciousness, severe rash, muscle enzymes were sky high. I was in ICU for one day and many tests were done to realize the Niaspan 500 mg a day was shutting my body down. | BEWARE!! DO NOT TAKE, SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS BESIDES THE FLUSHING. | F | 29 | 30 days | 12/8/2005 | 1 | high triglycerides | Took dose at 7pm, at 10pm symptoms came on very suddenly. Skin on entire body felt like a very severe sunburn, like skin was on fire. Nothing I could do to get comfortable. This was coupled with a a feeling of needles. Skin red from head to toe. Standing caused weakness This lasted all night. It was not a simple flushing this was severe pain. I had been taking the same doseage for weeks and this came on for no reason, I did have chineese food for dinner, with hot mustard sauce if that makes any difference? it is 8am the next day and skin still feels warm to the touch although most of the pain is gone. | M | 36 | 30 days | 5/2/2006 | 1 | Cholesterol | Was able to tolerate moderate flushing however i woke up last night with a severe amount of flushing, itching, burning and got scared to death. I'm contacting my doctor ASAP. | M | 59 | 30 days 1500 2X day | 4/30/2011 | 1 | high cholesterol | Total body flush, stinging feeling, itching, low blood pressure, insomnia and diarrhea. Taking low fat snack and 81 mg. aspirin didn't help. | I'm stopping it. There has to be a better way. I'm trying a vegetarian diet and more exercise. | F | 55 | 30 days | 9/1/2007 | 1 | cholestrol | increase in plasma homocyst(e)ine levels | plasma homocyst(e)ine levels INCREASES and ACCELERATES the formation of plaque in the arteries. Niaspan doubles the level of this in your blood (in some people). PLEASE tell your doctor to monitor yours if you are on Niaspan. Especially if you are Diabetic. | F | 51 | 30 days | 3/11/2009 | 1 | very low HDL, high triglicerides | Burning sensation over entire body, itching top of head to legs,followed by a migraine headache | I feel I cannot continue to take this medication. especially when it involves migrainesa. | F | 71 | 30 days | 4/7/2008 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Flushing and redness - feel like I am on fire - all of a sudden one night!! | Do not plan on continuing!! | M | 49 | 30 days | 11/23/2004 | 1 | diabetic ldl 110 | read this: www.cafepharma.com/boards/newreply.php?s=5da1d93ecb2c21528d4c712302b47098&do=newreply&noquote=1&p=1516439 | according to pharm reps, its all a money game | F | 50 | 30 days | 10/15/2008 | 1 | Raise HDL lower LDL after Stent | Flu like symptons. After 10 hours of sleep I did not feel refreshed--could have slept another 10 hours. Severe loss of memory: completely forgot how to play solitaire, Scrabble. Driving: drove past exits! | If I could have tolerated Niaspan I would not have hesitated continuing to take it because it is supposedly less harmful than statins (which I cannot tolerate either) since it is a vitamin. Nevertheless use caution when taking this or any medicine. | M | 80 | 30 days | 1/10/2010 | 1 | high ldl, low hdl | very real dreams every night. If they ever turn bad I'm going to quit this stuff. Got results back today after 30 days @ 500mg-no change in blood numbers. I see the doc Friday probably to increase dose to 1000mg. I've only flushed one time but have had bad acid reflux & heartburn since starting Niaspan. So far I'm not happy with it. I'll give it another rating after next blood test. | F | 47 | 30 days | 7/7/2008 | 1 | Taking Niaspan to raise my HDL. | Mild flushing at first, but tolerable when taken at bedtime. Now, after one month, I am experiencing awful burning and itching over my neck, scalp and back. I try not to scratch it, but do so sometimes anyway. I am miserable. I've taken my last Niaspan. I'll talk to my cardiologist about switching my statin to Crestor which is supposed to increase HDL. | This stuff may work for some patients, but I have normally low LDL and total cholesterol. I'm a diabetic and on a statin to reduce MI risk. Niaspan was recommended to raise my HDL. I am done with Niaspan. | M | 65 | 30 days | 6/15/2008 | 1 | High Cholesterol | I have stopped taking it because of the severe burning and itching effects. It happened about 75% of the time. I have not taken any for about 45 days. One effect I notice is the skin on my legs is very scaly and the subcutaneous tissue appears mottled...almost as though the pigmentation has been burned, curdled and separated. I need to take something for my cholesterol. But do not want to do this stuff again. I am trying Cholest-Off now. | M | 54 | 30 days | 5/9/2009 | 2 | Low HDL | Nightmarish burning, itching, prickliness. Followed Dr's directions and took aspirin 30 minutes before. This stuff is nasty enough to torture a terrorist. I was so uncomfortable I didn't know which end was up. It lasted over 2 hours. I won't be using this torture drug again! | M | 51 | 29 days | 8/23/2005 | 4 | high cholestrol, raise HDL | only had flushing l time, it lasted for about 5min. This was after taking niaspan for 7 days. | I take baby asprin at 5:30, then eat at 6, have a piece of wheat bread and a glass of milk with supper, then take niaspan. so far so good. only on 500mg. now, will increase to 1000mg in another week. | F | 56 | 25 days | 2/3/2005 | 2 | To increase my HDL | After 25 days without side effects I woke up last night with severe burning from head to abdomen. went to the bathroom and pasted out. I woke up covered with blood from head wound. I went to the doctor today and he said he does not think the Niaspan caused the fainting and now wants me to go to a Cardiologist. After reading the comments here I will call him and let him know that others have fainted. I have also had itching in my legs for several days. | I will not take this medication again. BEWARE!! | M | 59 | 25 days | 1/30/2007 | 1 | lower mildly elevated cholestrol | Serve flushing of entire body, I looked like a boiled lobster. Painful burning, tingling and needle-like feeling all over my skin. It came and went in waves at first and then stayed constant. My skin felt very tight. It started at the top of my head and continued over my entire body. I couldn't sit without pain. I couldn't stand clothing on my skin or to touch my skin anywhere. I had been having joint and muscle soreness I thought was from overwork and/or stress. I had insomnia and restless sleep. I felt anxiety and had vague headaches. I was on this drug for just 5 days short of a month and was about to increase the dosage as per my MD, when this happened. It continued for over 3 hours. All this has stopped now that I have stopped taking this drug. | I am a nurse and expected some flushing. I was not informed that anything worse could happen. It is not worth the risk of a greater reaction to continue taking niaspan. | F | 54 | 25 days | 1/9/2008 | 1 | Low HDL | Some flushing but total continuous body itching. Have never had anything like it. | I took niaspan in the evening after taking an asprin. I sometimes used hydrocortisone cream to control the itching. Before taking niaspan I was taking 500mg of OTC niacin and had no side effects. | M | 73 | 25 days | 6/9/2009 | 5 | low hdl | flushing,increased heart rate,chest pain,burning,tingling,burning feeling all over | I stopped having these symptoms after 3 days because I started taking 1 325mg non-coated aspirin 30 mins. prior to niaspan..and you should only take it when you are getting ready to lie down for the evening. I feel good so far and have even lost 10 lbs. | F | 34 | 24 days | 6/30/2006 | 2 | HIGH CHOLESTEROL | TOOK IT FOR THREE WEEKS, INCREASING 500 MG EACH WEEK. TAKING 1 BABY ASPIRIN WITH IT BEFORE BED. LAST NIGHT 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKING DOSE BEGAN TO TURN LOBSTER RED, AND ITCHY. TINGLES IN MY FACE AND THEN ALL OVER. ALMOST WENT TO ER, BUT TRIED TO SLEEP INSTEAD. AM VERY SCARED TO TAKE IT AGAIN TONIGHT. I WILL TRY ANYWAY. THERE MUST BE A BETTER DRUG?! | M | 41 | 24 days | 1/12/2008 | 2 | High cholesterol | Took Niaspan for about 3 weeks with only one previous episode of flushing/itching that lasted about 10-15 minutes. Took a 500mg dose at bedtime with shaved ham and mustard on whole wheat. Woke up @ 1:30 am with SEVERE flushing, weakness and dizziness, could barely walk and dropped to my knees trying to get back to bed. Have not taken any since then (12/18/07) Too unpredictable. Weird. | Discontinued for now until I can see my dr later this month. Currently taking Omega-3 fish oil (2000mg daily) until then. | F | 45 | 24 days | 12/23/2007 |